Destination keeps it pure for new campaign

Destination keeps it pure for new campaign

Government pushes environmental message

The Seychelles government is aiming to back up the ‘As Pure As It Gets’ campaign it launched three months ago by future-proofing the islands against environmental threats with new legislation.

The Seychelles Tourism Marketing Authority was forced to rebrand the campaign after New Zealand’s tourism authority complained that the ‘100% Pure’ logo it originally attempted to use clashed with its own copyrighted promotion. But the revamp has retained the environmental message and will be pushed in a pre-Christmas magazine campaign.

An STMA spokesman said: “Eco-protection is being taken to a whole new level in the Seychelles. The number of protected areas are being expanded, the penalties for eco damage are stiffer – you can get fined £1,000 and put in jail for taking the fruit of a coco de mer palm tree – and any new tourism developments have to be approved by both the Environmental Department and the Land Planning Department.”

Certain restrictions, such as forbidding buildings to be higher than the surrounding coconut trees and protection of the fragile coral reef and mangrove eco-systems, have been in place for years. But the STMA cites new examples, such as reclaiming land from the sea in Mahé rather than developing on existing land as proof that change is underway.

There are also plans to cap the total number of visitors although the STMA refused to give details on the upper limit of tourists, only saying there was plenty of room for growth on last year’s visitor numbers of 110,000.

In terms of property developments, Banyan Tree has already started building a 100-room, five-star hotel in Mahé’s Anse Intendende area and 15 villas will be completed by next year. Beachcomber is planning to develop a 60 to 80-room, five-star hotel on St Anne and Sun International is also planning a 90-room, five-star hotel on Mahé’s Port Launay.

Operators argue that the push towards a greater range of upmarket accommodation is long overdue and the island has some way to go to reverse prejudices built up by tourists over the years.

Cresta worldwide marketing executive Maria Llinares said: “We introduced the Lémuria, the first genuine five-star in the Seychelles this year and have seen some but not exceptional interest.

“It will take a number of years before our clients have faith in the Seychelles as an upmarket product – it is not tried and tested like Mauritius.”

Elite Vacations managing director Peter Jackson said: “We have seen some upgrading, but it’s still a very slow process in the Seychelles and they’re still some way from having a full five-star choice.”

Green scheme: the STMA is expanding the number of eco-protected areas on the islands

Seychelles by Gareth Cosslett

sample product

Popular choice: business to the Seychelles is increasing

Elite vacationshas a lead-in price of £769 for five-nights’ bed and breakfast at the Lazare Picault until early December. Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the Lémuria resort during the same period costs £1,648.

British airways holidays offers a seven-night bed-and-breakfast stay at the Berjaya Mahé Beach Resort for £879 between May 1 and July 15. The four-star Plantation Club is £1,099 for the same period, based on seven nights’ bed and breakfast.

Somak holidays features a seven-night bed andbreakfast at the Reef Hotel and Golf Club on Mahé costs £849 from January 10 to January 30.

holiday options: offers five nights at the Anse Soleil Beachcomber on Mahé for £742 room only including flights and transfers

Thomas cook has a five-night bed-and-breakfast break on the Berjaya Mahé Beach Resort for £723 between January 7 and March 31. Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the Coral Strand costs £747. It also offers a five-night half-board package at the Paradise Sun for £1,159. All prices based on two adults sharing a twin room and mid-week flights with Air Seychelles from London Gatwick.

Sunset farawayoffers five nights at the Berjaya Mahé Beach Resort for £778 from Jan 9 to March 31.

hayes and jarvis has a lead-in price of £815 for five nights’ bed and breakfast at Coral Island from December 1 to December 12, flying with Air Seychelles.